How to Prepare for Adoption

Every year, over 3,000 British families choose to adopt a child. While this is an exciting way to grow your family, there is also plenty to prepare before your child comes home.  In the UK, prospective adopters normally apply through a council or a voluntary adoption agency before completing the necessary assessments and being approved and matched with a child. 

But there are also legal steps involved, and that is where family law lawyers can provide advice on the legal aspects of adoption. Yet, once the paperwork is sorted, there is still so much to do and think about. Adopting a child changes your home, work, and routine in ways you may not have anticipated if you’ve never been a parent before. 

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Getting Your Home Ready

Preparing your home isn’t necessarily about creating a picture-perfect nursery or children’s bedroom. Your priority is to ensure your home is safe, comfortable, and appropriate for the age of the child joining your family.  What does it mean in practical terms?  This could mean securing furniture and moving cleaning products and medicines out of reach. This could mean installing stair gates. If the child is older, they may have different needs, such as somewhere they can keep their belongings and enjoy some privacy.  While it is tempting to plan every detail before you know your child, this isn’t always a good idea. You want to leave room for them to choose the decoration, bedding, and toys, so they can create a space that feels like home. 

Rethink Your Working Life

Your usual working arrangements may need some adjustment when your child arrives. Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks of statutory adoption leave. To be eligible, you need to have been employed continuously for at least 26 weeks, give the correct notice, and provide proof of adoption. Couples also have other options, including paternity and shared parental leave. But beyond planning the leave, you also need to think about what happens when you return. It can be helpful to discuss the possibility of flexible hours or remote work to make childcare and all relevant appointments easier to manage at first. 

Expect Your Routine to Change

Even a beautiful organised routine is unlikely to survive parenthood completely intact.  In fact, your meals, mornings, weekends, and evenings will suddenly start revolving around someone else’s needs. For a lot of new parents, it’s a cold reality check. You can’t make your child fit into your existing lifestyle. You will need to create more flexibility. While this doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning everything you’ve enjoyed before becoming a parent, it is important to find a new balance that works for your family and yourself. 

Learning How to Be a Parent

The truth is that nobody knows everything about parenting. You will get things wrong, and that is normal. You don’t have to figure it out alone. There are many adoption classes that cover infant care, feeding, and how to look after the emotional needs of adopted children. When you adopt through an agency, these classes are typically mandatory training.  You can also look at the same resources as any other parents, including child and infant care books and first aid courses for babies. Just because you are adopting, it doesn’t mean that you can’t follow the same advice.  Preparing for adoption can be a tough process with a lot to consider. But one thing you should never forget is that this is never about becoming a perfect parent. This is about creating a safe home and a loving environment for a child and for your new family.